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Kempt named Montana State WR coach

Rob Ash's vacancy for a wide receivers coach on his staff didn't last long.

On Wednesday, Bobcat Beat confirmed Brian Von Bergen had left the program. By Saturday night, Ash had named Cody Kempt his new wide receivers coach.

The hiring was first confirmed when Kempt's brother, Kyle, announced the hiring on Twitter. Kyle is a freshman quarterback at Oregon State.

Kempt, a 2011 MSU graduate who played quarterback for the Bobcats for three seasons, spent last season as a graduate assistant at Tennessee. Kempt was originally a finalist for MSU's opening at running backs coach, a spot vacated when Demo Odems left for Stephen F. Austin last month.

Kempt played quarterback for Montana State from 2008-2010. He played in 22 games and threw for 2,575 yards and 21 touchdowns. As a senior, the former Oregon transfer lost MSU’s quarterback competition to redshirt freshman DeNarius McGhee. McGhee went on to set MSU’s all-time records in wins, passing yards, passing touchdowns, total yards and total touchdowns, earning Big Sky Conference Offensive MVP honors in 2010 and 2012.

Kempt spent his first season out of school as a graduate assistant for Ash in 2011. In 2012, Kempt was a grad assistant for Cincinnati’s Big East championship squad. When Cincy offensive coordinator Mike Bajakian took the same position at Tennessee before last season, Kempt followed.

The 26-year-old Beaverton, Ore., native is the son of former MSU football player Mychel Kempt and former MSU track athlete Marlene Kempt.

Von Bergen, who left the program to be closer to his family in Ohio, coached MSU's wide receivers since 2009. He helped tutor four pass catchers — Everett Gilbert, Elvis Akpla, Jon Ellis and Tanner Bleskin — who finished in the top-10 all-time at Montana State in multiple career categories.